Baseball practice standard



March 21, 1961 J. G. WHITE 2,976,041

BASEBALL PRACTICE STANDARD Filed Aug. 28, 1959 INVENTOR.

WH/TE gay/v G.

United dtates Patent This invention relates to improvements in practice standards and more particularly to an adjustable practice standard that is used to support a baseball, hard or soft,

at the proper height to provide training of ball players in the technique of hitting a baseball Without the employment of a pitcher to throw the ball to the ball player.

An important object of the invention is to provide a standard having a flexible portion incorporated therein that if struck by a bat, when an attempt is made to hit a baseball supported by the standard, will not transmit the shock of the blow to the hands and arms of the player.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an adjustable practice standard to support a baseball so that a ball player may become accustomed to hiting a baseball at various heights from the ground.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a practice standard embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the reference numeral 10 is used to designate a practice standard embodying the invention.

The practice standard 10 comprises a circular base plate '11, that has a flat bottom 12 that engages the ground surface A, a flat top 13 of smaller diameter than the bottom 12 and a tapered peripheral edge 14 that extends between the top 13 and bottom 12. Four radially disposed headed spikes 15 extend through the base plate 11 in vertical relation to the ground surface A and are to be embedded in the ground A to firmly retain the standard in position. i

Positioned in the center of the top 13 of the base plate 11 is a tubular member 16 and since the base plate 11 and member 16 are made of metal, the base plate 11 and member 16 may be secured in fixed relation to each other by Welding or the like.

A pair of equally spaced rows of openings 17 and 18, respectively, are positioned in the member 16 so that the openings 17 and 18 are in alinement with each other. A steel pin 19 can be selectively positioned in the alined openings 17 and 18 and the pin 19 has an eye 20 on one end thereof. A chain 21 is connected at one end to the 2,976,041 Patented Mar. 21, 1961 eye 20 and at the other end to a ring 22 that is secured by welding or the like to the peripheral edge 14 of the base plate 11.

Telescopically positioned in the member 16 is a flexible cylindrical plug 23 that has a semi-circular seat 24 in the upper end thereof in which there may be positioned a baseball B.

The practice standard 10 can be positioned on the ground A with the spikes 15 embedded in the ground A and by raising the plug 23 and selectively positioning the pin 19 in the alined openings 18 and 19 and then lowering the plug 23 until it engages the pin 19, the baseball B may be retained at any desired height from the ground A The practice standard '10 is positioned so that it may be located for the convenience of the baseball player using the practice standard 10. Thus, by the use of the invention, a player may improve his batting stance, batting eye and accuracy -in hitting a baseball, or the practice standard 10 may be used merely to position a baseball so that it can be hit by anyone desiring to hit a ball without the assistance of a pitcher.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the structure and manner of use of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction, anrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a practice standard a base plate of circular formation having a smaller top than bottom and a tapered peripheral edge extending between said top and bottom, a tubular member secured to said base plate centrally thereof in vertical relation, said member having aligned rows of openings therein, a resilient flexible cylindrical member telescopically positioned in said tubular member, said cylindrical member having a pair of opposed openings extending through the walls thereof, said lastmentioned openings adapted for alignment with the openings in said tubular member, a pin selectively insertable through the aligned openings in said rows of openings and through said openings in said cylindrical member for adjustably positioning said cylindrical member vertically relative to said tubular member, said cylindrical member having an open top forming a seat adapted to receive a baseball, spikes extending vertically through said base and adapted to extend into the ground to retain said base in fixed relation to the ground, an eye secured to said base, a second eye on said pin, and a chain extending between said eyes to secure said pin against loss.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Patterson 'Apr. 28, 1959.

Rogers 0a. 2, 1911' 

